Webinar speaker Dr. Laurie Hazard, a seasoned higher education consultant with over 30 years of experience, shared her insights on cultivating student success in a recent Innovative Educators webinar. Drawing from her professional practice, research, and an upcoming book, Hazard outlined the "10 Habits of Mind for College Success," emphasizing the importance of combining social-emotional learning, executive functioning, and critical thinking to prepare students for academic and life success. This blog post highlights the key points from Hazard's talk, translating them into actionable takeaways for higher education professionals focused on enhancing first-year student success.

1. Possessing Humility: The Foundation Of Growth

Hazard identifies humility as the first and foundational habit for success. College students, especially first-year students, often struggle to admit when they need help. Higher education professionals can promote a culture of humility by normalizing help-seeking behaviors through orientations and workshops. Institutions can encourage faculty and staff to actively engage with students, framing humility not as a sign of weakness but as a critical self-awareness skill that supports growth and resilience.

Takeaway For Educators: Embed discussions about humility into first-year seminars and student success programs. Create safe spaces where students can comfortably seek academic support, making resources like tutoring centers and writing labs more accessible and less intimidating.

2. Develop A Theory Of Change For Faculty Training Success

The second habit, asking for help, ties closely to humility. Many students, particularly those new to college life, feel embarrassed or hesitant to seek assistance, often due to fears of looking inadequate. Hazard stresses the importance of equipping students with self-advocacy tools and helping them understand that asking for help is essential for academic success.

Takeaway For Educators: Introduce students to campus resources during orientation and emphasize the importance of self-advocacy in their academic journey. Develop exercises or role-playing scenarios where students practice seeking help in various academic and personal contexts.

3. Taking Risks & Embracing Change

Hazard explains that students must learn to take calculated risks and embrace change, particularly when adjusting the habits they developed in high school. For instance, they might need to shift from memorization-based study methods to more critical thinking and application-based learning.

Takeaway For Educators: Encourage students to step out of their comfort zones by offering low-stakes challenges in the classroom that promote risk-taking. Support students in trying new academic strategies, such as collaborative learning or research opportunities, and ensure they know that growth often stems from embracing discomfort.

4. Critical Thinking As A Lifelong Skill

Critical thinking is a well-known pillar of academic success, but Hazard emphasizes its practical application beyond the classroom. Critical thinkers are better prepared to analyze situations, solve problems, and make informed decisions in college and life.

Takeaway For Educators: Design curricula encouraging critical thinking through discussions, case studies, and problem-solving activities. Incorporate real-world scenarios into coursework to ensure students understand how these skills will serve them in their future careers and personal lives.

5. Forming Healthy Relationships

College is not just about academics—it's a pivotal time for students to build healthy relationships that support their well-being. Hazard highlights the importance of students surrounding themselves with peers who uplift and motivate them, as toxic relationships can derail academic success.

Takeaway For Educators: Incorporate discussions about interpersonal relationships into student success courses. Offer workshops on conflict resolution, empathy, and communication skills to help students foster positive and supportive relationships.

6. Time & Behavior Management

One of the most critical habits Hazard discusses is time management, but she reframes it as behavior management. Students often need help predicting how long tasks will take or prioritizing their time effectively.

Takeaway For Educators: Teach students the importance of time on task—the ability to accurately predict how long an assignment or study session will take based on prior experience. Introduce time-blocking techniques and encourage students to reflect on their time-wasting habits, like social media overuse.

7. The Power Of Grit & Persistence

Hazard also emphasizes grit—the ability to stick with complex tasks despite setbacks—as a crucial habit for college success. Research shows that students with higher grit levels are more likely to persevere through challenges and achieve long-term goals.

Takeaway For Educators: Highlight grit as a teachable skill. Incorporate activities that build resilience, such as long-term projects that require sustained effort. Share success stories of students who have overcome significant challenges through persistence.

8. Cultural Competency & Diversity Awareness

Understanding and appreciating diversity is an essential skill for today's students. Hazard encourages students to approach diversity with empathy and openness, engaging with peers from different backgrounds to broaden their worldviews.

Takeaway For Educators: Foster an inclusive classroom environment where students are encouraged to discuss diversity. Offer programs that promote cultural competency and social justice, equipping students with the tools to approach diversity-related challenges with empathy.

9. Self-Reflection & Self-Regulation

Hazard's framework encourages students to reflect on their behaviors, attitudes, and mindsets. Self-reflection allows students to recognize when their habits are misaligned with their goals and take corrective action.

Takeaway For Educators: Introduce reflective journaling exercises or regular self-assessment opportunities in your courses. Guide students to evaluate their academic progress and personal development regularly, helping them identify areas for improvement.

10. Taking Responsibility For Personal Growth

Finally, Hazard emphasizes the importance of students owning their academic journey. Personal responsibility for growth is critical to navigating college life's complex social, emotional, and academic challenges.

Takeaway For Educators: Encourage students to set clear, attainable goals for their college experience and hold themselves accountable. Provide mentorship or peer support systems where students can share their progress and challenges, reinforcing that personal growth is continuous.

Implementing The 10 Habits In Student Success Programs

By embedding these 10 habits of mind into first-year experience programs, student success courses, and academic advising sessions, higher education professionals can equip students with the tools they need to thrive in college and beyond. These habits align with contemporary research on social-emotional learning, metacognition, and executive functioning, which are critical for developing well-rounded, resilient students.

Conclusion

Laurie Hazard's insights on the "10 Habits of Mind for College Success" provide a comprehensive framework for supporting students in their journey from enrollment to graduation. By focusing on developing executive functioning, social-emotional learning, and essential success habits, faculty and staff can help students effectively navigate the challenges of higher education.

Innovative Educators' StudentLingo content directly supports the development of these habits by offering practical, accessible workshops that address students' most pressing challenges. By leveraging these resources, institutions can ensure that students survive and thrive in their college experiences, developing the resilience, skills, and mindset necessary for lifelong success.

To learn more about how StudentLingo can support your students, visit here to access a free trial and explore our range of workshops. Let's help students cultivate the habits of mind needed for college success—one workshop at a time!

How does your institution support first-year student success? Share your strategies and experiences in the comments below! And don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter for the latest tips and resources on enhancing student success and retention in higher education.

Stay Updated!

Don't miss out on the latest insights and updates in student success strategies. Subscribe to our newsletter for regular updates, and follow us on LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook to join our growing community of education innovators.

By Meg Foster, Online Learning & Design Specialist - Consultant & Wendy Archer,  Web Content Coordinator 
October 9, 2024